• Villa deny making 'inappropriate approach' for striker
• Bent told to 'Go and die' by angry fans on Twitter

Niall Quinn, the Sunderland chairman said he knew two or three weeks ago that 'there was something up with' Darren Bent but Aston Villa says he first knew of their interest on Sunday. Photograph: David Wilkinson/David Wilkinson - Offside

Aston Villa have strongly defended their conduct in relation to Darren Bent's acrimonious transfer from Sunderland and insisted that at no point did they make an "inappropriate approach" to the striker. The Midlands club were moved to issue a statement after Niall Quinn, the Sunderland chairman, implied that Villa had tapped Bent up several weeks ago.

Bent, who has received death threats on Twitter after joining Villa for an initial £18m fee that could rise to as a high as £24m, expressed disappointment at Quinn's remarks as well as the comments Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, made the day before. Bruce said everyone at Sunderland had "the right to feel massively let down" and suggested Bent's transfer to Villa explained his poor form in recent weeks.

After Bent defended his actions when he was unveiled at a press conference on Tuesday night, Villa thought a line had been drawn under the episode. Quinn, however, subsequently poured fuel back on the fire during a television interview in Ireland when he did everything but accuse Villa of making an illegal approach forthe England international .

"Two or three weeks ago maybe, I went into the training ground and there was something up with him," he said. "I looked at his demeanour and I thought: 'It's not right.' Having been in the game, you kind of know when someone's got something going on in their head. It transpired that that's what had happened. They were setting him up to try and come and he took the bait."

Villa are furious with Quinn's comments and believe they are part of a face-saving exercise designed to placate Sunderland supporters aggrieved at the club's decision to sell their most valuable asset. Bent become aware of his possible transfer only after Sunday's game against Newcastle, according to Villa, who have pointed to the speed with which the transfer was completed as evidence of Sunderland's willingness to sell.

The Villa statement said: "We understand Sunderland Football Club's need to explain to their naturally disappointed supporters why Darren Bent has been allowed to leave. It is disappointing, however, that Sunderland should try to besmirch the reputation of the player and Aston Villa Football Club in the process. We wish to make clear that at no time did Aston Villa make an inappropriate approach to the player or unfairly compromise the business of Sunderland Football Club."

The move has taken a more sinister twist with the threats Bent has received for leaving Sunderland. One tweet said: "Hope you die painfully, remember what we did for you." Another stated: "Judas. Go and die." And a third said: "Hope you break your neck." Bent had said he would avoid Twitter because he expected to be "annihilated" by Sunderland fans.

The striker, who is set to make his Villa debut against Manchester City on Saturday, addressed the comments by Bruce and Quinn. "It's not nice obviously because you spent the best part of 18 months getting on perfectly well with the manager, the owners of the club, the whole football club, and then a day later they're all taking a dig at me. I am disappointed with the way it finished and what's happening now. At the same time I'm an Aston Villa player now and I can't really worry about what my ex-manager or chairman is saying about me. If they didn't want to sell me, they didn't have to."